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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes 3 <br /> May 13, 2003 <br /> Page 3 <br /> 1 Mr. Archambault noted the Study Group was charged to look at all options available over an <br /> 2 eight-month period and present the Council with their recommendations. He indicated numerous <br /> 3 sites within the City were reviewed by the varying Study Group members. Mr. Archambault , <br /> 4 noted three open houses were held to gain additional feedback from the residents. <br /> 5 <br /> 6 Mr. Archambault reviewed the preferred options with the Council stating the Study Group feels <br /> 7 the Christen site would be a great central location for a new combined fire station. He stated the <br /> 8 existing sites could be redeveloped to allow them to generate taxes again. Mr. Archambault <br /> 9 indicated the Study Group recommends renovating and adding on to the existing public works <br /> 10 facility to bring it up to code and meet the needs of the City. He then reviewed the needs of the <br /> 11 public works and how the existing facility was not meeting those needs. <br /> 12 <br /> 13 Mr. Archambault stated the proposed improvements are not short-term in nature, but would be <br /> 14 lasting improvements to bring the community into the next 50 years for their public works and <br /> 15 fire departments. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 Mr. Archambault indicated the Council challenged the study group with a$5 million budget for <br /> 18 both upgrades. He noted this challenge then led to a proposal of doing both facilities at the <br /> 19 public works facility site for roughly$4.7 million. He reviewed the advantages and <br /> 20 disadvantages of this proposal noting the site would not provide enough parking or indoor <br /> 21 storage if approved as presented. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 Mr. Archambault reviewed a response time survey completed by the study group and how it <br /> 24 could be effected by the placement of the fire department at the public works facilities. He noted <br /> 25 response times would increase. Mr. Archambault noted the Kenzie Terrace site has been <br /> 26 eliminated as a possibility due to the price of acquisition($600,000) and demolition work <br /> 27 needed. He stated this would also remove a commercial property from the tax rolls. Mr. <br /> 28 Archambault reviewed the acquisition fees between the Christen property to the Kenzie Terrace <br /> 29 parcel. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Mr. Archambault explained if the Christen site were used for a new station, the scale of the <br /> 32 building would have to be downsized. He reviewed a new plan meeting the$5 million budget to <br /> 33 best serve the community from this central location. Mr. Archambault reviewed the proposed <br /> 34 renovations to the public works facilities to meet the budget left over after completing the fire <br /> 35 station. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Mr. Archambault reviewed the project costs estimates and how it would effect the taxpayers <br /> 38 within the community. He noted for a$100,000 home with a$5 million bond it would cost the <br /> 39 taxpayer$85 per year. Mr. Archambault noted lease revenue bonds do not require a vote and <br /> 40 indicated these bonds are most often used for city service buildings and utilities. He stated this <br /> 41 may be an option for the Council to consider as the economy is down with construction pricing <br /> 42 at a surprising low. <br /> 43 <br /> 44 Mr. Archambault explained the need for these facilities was not going to go away. He stated <br /> 45 these buildings would be an investment that would last the residents up to 50 years and would <br /> 46 only be paid on for 20 years. Mr. Archambault indicated the residents are looking for the <br />